Life in 2016

And just like that, the hype is over. Christmas has come and gone. The aftermath of New Years celebrations have been nursed. I hope… And I’m a tad tardy with this post.

Can you believe it’s already the 8th of January 2016! Never too late to wish everyone a prosperous New Year though 🙂

Over here in Jonkersville, 2016 started with a bang. It was the first time in years Keith and I actually went to a party New Years eve, and what a great time we had. So great, that being awake at 4am after working the previous day wasn’t a chore. So great, that I survived New Years day with only 2 hours sleep. Who needs sleep when you’re in great company right? Even better, is that the kids were right there and we shared the laughs and dances with them too.

I’ve been doing such a lot of life stuff that my memory banks are overflowing. For a change, I let my hair down and enjoyed every moment instead of thinking what a great post it would make or take pics which I probably won’t look at all that often. I jumped the waves at the beach, ate too much, built sandcastles, did nothing and purely existed for one whole day (that’s a lot in mommy time!), actually looked at old pics and I ate some more. Hence the late New Years wish.

Anyhoo, enough about me…

This week my uncle lost his dad and even though it was sort of expected (and I don’t mean this lightly) it didn’t lessen the pain for their family. No matter how long someone is ill, nothing ever prepares you for that void when they have reached the end of the road.

It kind of reminded me of the day my gran passed away. I did washing that morning and was supposed to bake her a carrot cake. The mix was ready and all I had to do was pop it into the oven but then the call came. She never got to enjoy the carrot cake. Luckily she will never know that I didn’t make the mix from scratch. Chocolate cake is my speciality. I used to buy the carrot cake mixture, all ready to pour into a cake pan and bake. Gosh, I miss that bakery. Gran suffered from cancer and we expected her battle to come to an end much sooner but when it happened, it still came as a shock.

Two days ago my mother-in-law had a heart attack and boy was I glad for those heart attack email alerts I’ve gotten over the years. Coughing really does buy you time. Thinking about how I told her to cough and cough that day seems quite funny because I didn’t have a cooking clue at the time that it was that bad. Or that it would work. Or that I was dishing the advice. Thank God for autopilot. Imagine my relief when I discovered that it really does work. All this happened telephonically and I think there’s a slight (maybe a big chance) she may have been thinking that I’m bonkers but she humoured me. I specialize in tough love. She’s not completely out of the danger zone but she is still with us.

Needless to say, the past few days had me thinking about life in its entirety. One moment you’re here, the next you may be breathing your last breath. You know those ‘nice’ words and quotes we often see and sometimes share but never really live or ‘do’. We sometimes lose track of things in our busy lives that we either forget to stop and smell the roses or we forget to really live. We don’t get to read some emails because there are just too many words. We get so consumed with ourselves and our problems that we don’t often realize how blessed and fortunate we are. My niece referred to me as her rich aunt the other day. Mind you, I’m her only ‘aunt’ aunt but her perception of me is nowhere close to where I see myself or my situation. You get what I’m saying right? I’m blessed. We tend to take things and people for granted, not because we don’t care but because we sort think it’ll always be in perfect working order or that our loved ones will live forever. Not to mention the things we never give any thought to because stuff always happens to other people.

Well enough about all of that now too. Apologies if I made the post seem a bit glum for a minute there, but life happens. No one knows when will be their last day. We must choose how to live and whether or not we do it intentionally. I’ve long since stopped believing in New Years resolutions and wasting my time trying to shape up and be a different version of myself just because it’s a New Year. Every day is a new beginning and an opportunity to start fresh. Seize the moment. I do however have a few wishes for everyone for the New Year.

My wishes for everyone (including me) this year is: (and this is where I get cliche-y)

To experience love, happiness and lots of laughter.

To look at every mistake as a learning curve and to grow.

To embrace all experiences good and bad.

To know that sky is not the limit; we must reach for the stars.

To dare to dream. Even if you dream about what you’ll do with your lotto winnings yet you never play. (This one is mostly or me. Hee hee hee)

To never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them. Unless, off course, they’re not yours to love.

To smile. You may just make someone’s day. Or just do it for you.

To donate to charity. Money is always welcome, but so is time. You HAVE something to offer the less fortunate. In fact, how about doing a total mind shift and stop thinking about charity as a way of “giving back” and adopt a “give because you can” or “doing what comes naturally” attitude.

To empower ourselves by learning a new craft or skill. We’re never too old to learn.

Be YOU. Be the best you, you can be while staying true to yourself.

Here is to another year full of promise and expectation. Then blogging about it because it helps keep the sanity in tact. Cheers to all of you 😉

How has 2016 treated you thus far?

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